Summary
TheNintendo Switch 2has revealed a long list of Switch 1 titles that may not run on the forthcoming console seamlessly at launch, owing to startup issues, hardware mismatch, and more. This caveat exists despite theNintendo Switch 2being backwards-compatible with games released for the original Switch.
For a console generation to last nearly a decade is no small feat and, thanks to unwavering sales performance, the Switch has remained Nintendo’s main console offering since 2017. During this period, it has received a plethora of major hits, including ones from fan-favorite franchises such asSuper Mario,The Legend of Zelda, andMetroid. So, when theSwitch 2 was confirmed to be backwards-compatiblewith games built for its predecessor, fans were relieved to hear the news. At that time, Nintendo had also stated that this would not apply to all Switch 1 games, and to that end, the console giant has now given some useful clarification.
Nintendo announcedthat, as of the compatibility tests conducted on April 1, there are 188 Switch 1 games that have varying issues running on Switch 2. Out of these, a total of 141 games, includingFortnite,Doom Eternal,NBA 2K25,Rocket League, andWarframe, experience startup issues on Switch 2. However, regardingFortnite, the Japanese gaming giant ensured that adedicated Switch 2 versionwas planned for the future. Moreover, there are 47 games, includingAlan Wake: Remastered,Alien: Isolation,Fall Guys,Mega Man Legacy Collection, andStreet Fighter 30th Anniversary Collection, that are playable on the Switch successor but still contain in-game compatibility problems. Importantly, the console maker underlined that the list was tentative and games could join or leave the list as more tests are conducted later in April.
Nintendo Shares List of Switch 1 Games Not Compatible with Switch 2
Apart from software hiccups, there are hardware differences between the original Switch and thenewly showcased Switch 2as well that make games designed for the former incompatible with the latter. This list includesRing Fit Adventure,1-2-Switch,Game Builder Garage,Nintendo Switch Sports,WarioWare: Move It!, and the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con Kits. While the Nintendo Labo Toy-Con 04: VR Kit doesn’t support Switch 2 at all, the other aforementioned games, including the remaining three Toy-Con Kits, can still work with the Switch 2 if players pair it with the original Switch’s Joy-Cons.
Meanwhile, there are several big games from the past few years that didn’t make their way to Nintendo’s platform. Some of them, includingCyberpunk 2077,Elden Ring, andFinal Fantasy 7: Remake Intergrade, were recentlyconfirmed for the more powerful Switch 2during the Nintendo Direct livestream on April 2.
